Successful AER applicant, Sophie Anna Gibbings, shares letter of motivation for the Domaine de Boisbuchet residency

Before beginning my master’s degree, I worked on a regenerative farm called Oasis Citadine in Montpellier, France. This experience taught me the importance of community and biodiversity. Regenerative agriculture provides for the human species by supplying our food, however, unlike commercial agriculture, we don’t see ourselves as superior to nature but rather we understand that reciprocity is necessary in securing our future on Earth. The plants provide for us, and we nurture the plants in return. During my time on the farm, the soil and I became symbiotic. I listened intently to the plants and worked in harmony with them. These practices are now deeply woven into my creative practice. My practice stems from an engagement in direct interactions with the Earth’s mineral and organic matter. Together, we are two artists collaborating.

Alternative photographic processes have always captivated me. They are alchemical in that they evoke magic and result in one-of-a-kind handmade artworks. However, the processes I once practiced are no longer sustainable. Our attachment to having our work last forever is problematic and one of the reasons we are faced with a climate crisis. I am concerned with material considerations just as much, if not more, as aesthetics. Our visual language needs to shift so that we can take care of our planet while still creating beautiful artworks.